The gut microbiota of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: current methods and their interpretation

N. van Best, Peter L.M. Jansen, Sander S. Rensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The role of intestinal bacteria in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is increasingly acknowledged. Recently developed microbial profiling techniques are beginning to shed light on the nature of gut microbiota alterations in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this review, we summarize the gut microbiota composition changes that have been reported during different stages of human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and highlight the relation between bile acids and gut bacteria in this context. In addition, we discuss the different methodologies used in microbiota analyses as well as the interpretation of microbiota data. Whereas the currently available studies have provided useful information, future large-scale prospective studies with carefully phenotyped subjects and sequential sampling will be required to demonstrate a causal role of gut microbiota changes in the etiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)406-415
Number of pages10
JournalHepatology International
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2015

Keywords

  • Gut microbiota
  • Steatosis
  • Steatohepatitis
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Bile acids
  • INCREASED INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY
  • DIET-INDUCED OBESITY
  • BILE-ACID
  • CIRRHOSIS
  • BACTERIA
  • STEATOHEPATITIS
  • HOMEOSTASIS
  • METABOLISM
  • RECEPTOR
  • GROWTH

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